The Prescription to Nonprescription Switch

A random digit dialing telephone interview of 558 respondents from the State of Georgia was conducted to determine consumer awareness, purchase patterns, and information sources for switched OTC drugs. Seventy-seven percent of consumers expressed knowledge of the availability of the new nonprescription drugs. Generally, more educated, wealthier Caucasian consumers were most likely to be aware of new OTC drugs. Most consumers had purchased a switched product within the last six months. Younger, better educated, wealthier consumers were most likely to have purchased a switched product. A majority of consumers stated that they would ask a pharmacist, rather than a physician or someone else, if they needed information about a switched product. Preference for the pharmacist as an information source was highest among younger, better educated, wealthier consumers.